Keeping countryside E. coli at bay

Jacqui Kennedy, Birmingham City Council’s head of regulation and enforcement, writes in the Birmingham Mail that last year, Sutton Park National Nature Reserve was associated with the E. coli infection.

A link was made between the cows that graze on the site and the E. coli cases reported.

Within Sutton Park, grazing livestock are a crucial element of the management sutton.park.UK.cattle.may.13regime of the site and have been in place for centuries.

They are an essential tool used to maintain the habitats within the site and are the reason we have such a unique rural landscape within an urban area.

One solution to the E.c oli problem could have been to remove cattle from the site permanently. However, if grazing animals were no longer a management tool, the nature of Sutton Park would alter substantially.

The nationally important habitat of low land heathland we are fortunate to possess would be threatened – including many important and locally rare species.

The cattle also play a vital role in the site’s eco-system, providing a food source through their feces for many mini-beasts. These creatures then provide food for other insects, birds and bats.

The cows are now back and have been given a clean bill of health, but I want to continue to spread the message that E. coli is part of our natural environment and safeguards should always be taken to protect ourselves from harm.

To reduce the risk of infection people should wash their hands whenever they visit any rural environment.

We have worked to provide further help to our visitors to the park by increasing hand washing facilities and signs.

6 children sickened with E. coli; cattle return to UK park

In July 2012, six children were sickened with E. coli O157 linked to feces from cattle that also roamed the grounds of Sutton Park in Birmingham, the largest city sutton.park.UK.cattle.may.13park in Europe.

Children have now been given the all-clear to return to the park.

New signage has been put up at the park, for visitors reminding them to wash their hands to avoid infection and showing them where facilities are available. Additional handwashing points have also been installed and areas such as the playgrounds and car parks have been cleaned.

Handwashing is never enough.

6 sick; how do kids get E. coli in a park? From the animals; and handwashing is never enough

Children have been given the all clear to return to a Birmingham, UK, park that was at the center of an E. coli outbreak.

The Health Protection Agency said there have been no new cases of the deadly bug in nearly six weeks at Sutton Park after steps were taken to reduce the risk of infection.

The Birmingham Mail reports parents of children under the age of 10 had been advised to keep them away from beauty spot in July, after two youngsters were rushed to hospital with the O157 strain of the bug. It was linked to the feces of animals that live in the park.

Four other children were also said to have had E.coli.

All six have now recovered.

Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant with the Health Protection Unit (HPU) in Birmingham said, “the advice to wash hands before eating or drinking remains essential for visitors to the park and indeed for anyone visiting areas where contact with animals or animal feces is possible.”

New signage has been put up at the park, for visitors reminding them to wash their hands to avoid infection and showing them where facilities are available. Additional handwashing points have also been installed and areas such as the playgrounds and car parks have been cleaned.

The cattle that graze Sutton Park have now moved off site for the winter.

7 sick with E. coli O157 linked to UK park

Seven people have been infected with E. coli O157 at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield over July and August.

Five of the cases involved children under eight years old, according to the Health Protection Agency. All patients have since recovered.

BBC News reports posters and leaflets have been issued, but the HPA said parents may want to use other parks for the time being.

Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant with the HPA’s West Midlands East Health, said extra hand washing facilities had been set up in the park.

Posters issued by Birmingham City Council in Sutton Park recommended keeping children and pets away from grazing animals and washing hands, particularly before eating or drinking.

They also advised washing shoes and bicycle and pushchair wheels after a visit to the park.